Bill That Could Save Lives May Be Slipping Away, Coalition Says

Coalition Against Domestic Violence worried that proposal might not make it.

HARTFORD — Advocates for legislation that would require gun owners subject to a temporary restraining order to turn in their firearms said they fear the proposal may not come up for a vote this year.

With the General Assembly constitutionally mandated to adjourn at midnight on Wednesday, time for a lengthy debate on a potentially controversial gun control measure may be slipping away.

"We're just really disappointed at this point,'' said Karen Jarmoc, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. "It's just too important. This is good policy, it is going to save people's lives."

Jarmoc joined other advocates at a hastily organized press conference at the state Capitol Saturday to marshal support for the initiative. Joining the group was the family of Lori Jackson Gellatly, a 32-year-old state employee and mother of two from Oxford who was shot and killed last year. Her husband, Scott, has been charged with murder and attempted murder in the shootings of his wife and his mother-in-law, despite having three restraining orders filed against him by the two shooting victims and his first wife.

"We just urge everyone to get behind the bill,'' said Kacey Mason, Gallatly's sister. "We're just asking for some loopholes to be filled, we're not looking to infringe on anyone's right to own a gun."

Rep. John Hampton, D-Simsbury, was among a group of House members who attended the press conference. "We stand in solidarity with the Jacksons,'' he said. "We're going to do our best to have it called. This is the most compelling issue of the day.''

The idea of requiring those subject to temporary restraining orders to forfeit their guns and ammunition has been endorsed by many of the most powerful politicians at the Capitol, including Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, House Speaker Brendan Sharkey and Senate President Martin Looney, all Democrats. Malloy made it a cornerstone of his 2014 re-election effort and later held a press conference with former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona to promote the plan.

"[We] had full support from the Speaker, from the Senate President, from the governor, that this was a priority bill this session and that they would all be working toward getting it passed," Jarmoc said.

Asked about the bill, state Rep. and House Speaker Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, said he remains committed to getting it through. "It will certainly be a bill that will generate a lot of discussion and will take time, but it's just a function right now of figuring out the right time, because it's going to take so much time, figuring out when we can fit it in the schedule."

But, he said, "it's not for lack of commitment for getting it done. It's my intention to run it before the end of session, but we have to allot a lot of time for it within our schedule."

The proposal as it stands now would give gun owners 24 hours to turn in their weapons after the restraining order was filed. Critics of the measure say such a law is not needed because there is already a state law that accomplishes the same goal: removing weapons from those in danger of hurting themselves or others.

"We're strong proponents of the safety of all individuals,'' said Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League.

But, Wilson added, "there are already sufficient laws on the books." The debate over the issue raised awareness about those existing statutes, he said.

Pat O'Neil, a spokesman for the House Republican caucus, said the bill has been through many changes since it was first proposed. "It's been through significant iterations, we've been talking about this for literally months in all the caucuses and the governor's office," he said. "Some people feel very passionate about this and may chose to express those views but it is not a caucus position."

Jarmoc said she is worried lawmakers won't want to bring out a bill on a divisive and passionately-held issue like gun control when time is short. "We are looking for the House to call this bill tonight," she said Saturday. "The concern is, that if it happens on Monday, its just going to be too late."

The proposal is known in legislative parlance as a "talker," meaning that many lawmakers would want to weigh in. "I think it will be a lengthy debate and that's OK," she said. "At the end of the day, what an important dialogue to have."